Dinosaur Puzzles: 120, 252 or 520 Pieces, and Which One to Give

A dinosaur puzzle is one of the few gifts that works for a nine-year-old and their grandparent at the same table. The trick is picking the right piece count. Too few and it's done before the cocoa cools; too many and it lives in the box until March.

We make 13 dinosaur jigsaw puzzles in two styles. Below is what each one is, how big it ends up, who it suits, and the dates to order by for Christmas. Every size, price and shipping time here comes from the live product listing.

The short version

All 13 are in our dinosaur puzzles collection.

Two kinds of dinosaur puzzle

Every design comes in two piece counts, but the range splits into two styles, and the difference matters more than the artwork.

The jar puzzles: 120 or 252 pieces

Six designs come packed in a plastic jar instead of a box, which takes up much less room on a shelf and makes a tidy gift. They're cardboard, in two sizes:

• 120 pieces, 11.5″ × 8″, $24.99
• 252 pieces, 15.1″ × 10.4″, $39.99

Four of the six are T. rex: Samurai T-Rex, Pug T-Rex, Volcano T-Rex and Beach & Palm T-Rex. The other two are Red Sunset and Last of the Dinosaurs.

The flat puzzles: 252 or 520 pieces

Seven designs are made from pressed paper chipboard, 1.53 mm thick, with a semi-gloss finish. They're bigger, and the listing notes they can be used as wall decor once they're done:

• 252 pieces, 13.6″ × 10.6″, $24.99
• 520 pieces, 19.7″ × 15.7″, $39.99

The flat range puts a wider cast of dinosaurs in the lead, including a couple you won't find on most puzzles: Galactic Brachiosaurus, Serene Stegosaurus, Mossy Avaceratops, Forest Guaibasaurus, Sunny Morning, Pastel Sunrise and SynthRex.

Which dinosaur puzzle for which person?

Piece count is the whole decision, so here's how the three play out:

• 120 pieces: a younger puzzler or a short sit. A good step up for a school-age kid who has outgrown chunky toddler puzzles. Not for children under 3; the flat puzzle listings carry a small-parts warning, and that's sensible for any jigsaw.
• 252 pieces: the family puzzle. Big enough to share across a kitchen table, small enough to finish in an evening or a weekend afternoon. At $24.99, the flat 252 is the best-value puzzle in the range. The jar 252 is $39.99 and a little larger.
• 520 pieces: for adults. Nearly 20 inches across. The flat designs suit a grown-up who'd rather frame the result than tip it back in the box. If you're shopping for dinosaur puzzles for adults, start here.

What we don't make: wooden puzzles, floor puzzles, or chunky-piece puzzles for toddlers. Ours are proper jigsaws, from 120 pieces up.

Dinosaur puzzles compared

Ordering a dinosaur puzzle for Christmas

Each puzzle is printed when you order it, and the two styles have very different lead times:

• Flat puzzles: 1–3 business days to make, then 2–5 to ship. Up to 8 business days. Order by December 10 for it to arrive by December 22.
• Jar puzzles: 2–7 business days to make, then 6–9 to ship. Up to 16 business days. Order by November 25, the day before Thanksgiving, to be safe for December 22.

Those dates work back from the slowest estimate, which is the one that counts in December. Both styles ship to US addresses only.

A puzzle and a mug of something hot is a good winter gift. Our guide to dinosaur mugs has the other half. For everything else, from ornaments to stockings, see the dinosaur Christmas guide.

Dinosaur puzzle FAQ

How many pieces are your dinosaur puzzles? 120, 252 or 520, depending on the design. Jar puzzles come in 120 or 252; flat puzzles in 252 or 520.

How big is the finished puzzle? From 11.5″ × 8″ (120 pieces) up to 19.7″ × 15.7″ (520 pieces).

Are they suitable for kids? For older kids, yes. They're not for children under 3, and there are no chunky toddler puzzles in the range.

Can I frame a finished puzzle? The flat puzzle listings say they can be used as wall decor. Use puzzle glue first.

Do you ship outside the US? No. The listings say US only.

Ready to pick one? See all 13 dinosaur puzzles.